Name: Pam
Victim: Adult, Pet
Location: In my own drive way, Alabama
Year of attack: 2020

Tell us about the attack

I had cataract surgery on Monday July 27, 2020. The first day after the surgery that I could exercise lightly was Thursday, 30 July 2020. So around 6:50 p.m. that day I took my husky “Malechia” out for a walk in the neighborhood.

As we left, I heard and saw the neighbor’s pit bull in his yard two houses up. That pit bull had attacked my husky three months before. He got her around her neck but because of her fur he couldn’t get the throat.

When we returned from the walk, I walked a bit past my house to get my mile of exercise in. I noticed a lady outside in the yard two houses up and I waved. She said nothing. When I got back to my house that neighbor’s pit bull was sitting in my driveway. I don’t remember if I had time to scream but the next thing I knew he had my right leg. I thought he was going to tear it off. He then got my arm but first bit into my Apple Watch. He then bit my arm again and broke his tooth off in my arm — the doctor found it. I had to spend four days in the hospital and required 26 stitches in total.

He also nipped my husky. Had I fallen that pit would have killed me and my beautiful sweet husky.

How has your life changed as a result of the attack?
I still have scars and nerve damage. I have a huge chunk missing from my leg. It is ugly but I am grateful I still have a leg because at one point, neither the ER doctor nor my Orthopedic doctor would answer me when I asked if I was going to lose my leg. I told them I would pray and I did pray. God saved my life that night. I am totally convinced.

As a Christian I had to forgive but I won’t forget and I will NEVER trust another pit bull — I really didn’t trust them then to start with, either. This attack proved me right.

When I am out now and see a pit behind a fence I tell Malechia it is a pit and her ears go straight up. I tell her they are fenced in but she keeps watching!

Legal Consequences
The owner of the pit bull was the boyfriend of the lady who had been out in the yard. I sued but her insurance said no pets. I wound up getting $5,000 but had to pay my insurance company $1500 and paid the lawyer some — a minimal fee and I got $3,500. I personally have wonderful insurance which was great.

What would you like people to know as a result of your attack?
Be on your guard. Most dogs give you a warning and that is it. Some small dogs yap. But pit bulls give no warning.

And if it comes to a bite, while of course any dog or even any animal for that matter can nip or bite, there is a world of difference between a bite and a mauling: those two different words exist for a reason. Most dogs that do bite do just that: bite, and then let go. Pit bulls instead will actually hold, tear and rip the flesh. Their intent is to kill.

I will say this: in all of my years of walking and running I have never had any dog type other than a pit try to attack me. Since 1995, I’ve had three huskies, and I’ve encountered eleven pit bulls who attacked or tried to attack them, and no other dog type has. NEVER!

Pits need to be banned. I have friends who have horrendous stories. Two friends nearly had their faces torn off. Another had a pit bull tear her nose off.

My attack story is true. I have not made up any of it. I have been telling my story to keep others from going through this. I want people to understand that the problem with pit bulls is the breed itself, not how they are raised. I will “preach” this to my death!

Please get a friendly breed dog, especially if you have a child or children or live near children.

Thank you for this opportunity to share. This pit bull horror afflicting our neighborhoods must end.